Liquid fuel tank cap



June 7, 1949. s. wlsE LIQUID FUEL TANK CAP Enea oct. 2, 1945 .Y INVENTOR. fo/aman h//se Patented June 7, 1949 UNITED s TAT es PAT OFFICE amaai vLIQUIDFUI/l1. TANK 1on1" Solomon WisenShaker` Heightsfhio Application Oe'tober, 1945; -Seiial Non -'6'1'9808 :3 Claims. (01.220-409 mwentionreiateslto milling' :caps .orf closures for gasoline 'or like liquid ffnet tank's, fsuehfior 4example as those provided on automotive vehicles.

As is.we1'1'lnown, y.t-,helliqn'td .fuel 'tank -oi .fan Zautnfotivefvenfiolelisulled through a ltube :or stem, wildernis thereafter :closed bye, detachable 4gasketseale'dap toxkeen oat.- dust, dirt, water :andaot'her tonele-n; material. and "toy prevent' evaporation fof thefuel..

standard commercial vehielfe tank "lling vstem .is tubular :and ,is provided :atits open fend with internal raam surfaces.. The standard ycap has-1a. :central :portion wliitilr enters thefopen end "uf 'the end-has flugs17 'which upon rotation of the leapt. eneagefthe earn. surf'acesv to` drawl vthe cap tightly upon lthe:e'rrdfoffthestern. annular sealingV fgasket :is 'provided fat '.tneftengaeement 'between theloaip: and rst'fmbexsrd.

"Bhe- :cam-erigagin'g flugs fof' the reap. fare usually vv:madeiresilient'for yieldable fso that the capcon@ to 'get tighter :and seal 'fthegasket; tighter itsV the 'cap is tu-med.

In order for the gasketE to*y =:properly` engage the end-off thefste'm, fthe gasketiis mountedin-the Soap: and the central portion of thefoap which Venters thefstem endL iis 'formed so 'as to be guided or 'eerter'ed therein so 'that thevgasket .is centered 'or positioned Ytolse coaxial with thel end of v'the stem.

"liilling tubes-of commercial 'vliile tanks have been standardized in different sizes', in gener-al two'sizesof'diierent diameters'. Aea'p -Whichw'ill center in fa large diameter stem, ils'ltoo larg'eta be usel Witlfr'a smell diameter stern. A -canwhieh cent-'er in a smally stem will not fcenter iin' la Ilair-gey one.

'In order to keep down the :cost offsuoh caps, theyy mustbe made quantities;- but `because of there 1being two Asizes the manufacturer must make up and assemble two-ifferentsets -of parts 'for the two sizes 'of caps, andistock two sizes of complete caps so that the economies resulting from lquantity production vfare less than. :they would be ifI 'the ycapsl wereI all alike.

lt'is this situation' Whiehhasled tothepresent invention. ley the '-praetiee of the invention fa quantity=0i -cap parte vand-f 'assembled 'caps Acan be made up, al1 exactlyalikeiforfeithersize; and cemqlete except-fior the feasket. quantity of` small and large gaskets', and a1-'quantity' osimple, 4-zihezalp ladaptersto 4berdes'crilned) 'arevalso provided.. ht 'thetmefof 'IIl-ingan order'for aqualntityfoleaps Ytif' small fes-izer'the manuf'adtuter takes Ia quantity 'of caps out di steek and ships themV with 'small gaskets. Tow-illf-aneorer for` a quantity 1of large naps, the-manufacturer vtakes fa quantity of ,sans

out. nf ithesamse; sroek,v assembles adapters with iamlaships them withl :1a-nge gaskets. flhnsrall'tozthe-caps, at the timeof making and assembling them,x-arefexaetly alike for vbotlli sizes andthe-quantity which .can be .manier-atene; Vtime f isoenrespondinglwuincreased. and the fcost icorreseeminglyreduced.

linfonderrrto reieot tlflisresult'.v and asta ,pant-UI he invention,:asin-aleV sizet oi 'resilient cam en.- gaging lugs must fb'e provided von the can, and made-Aso'. .arsr ttoV @operate vv-ithrand .perform then' function with the cam suriacswon: the two sizes oivstenm: --andesinoe the stems rame'` standardized tnshave Itwo fdiametrieally' :opposite camsurfaces, such resilient lugs must, fin; any fc'ase; engage thernlequally or 'with equalizediresilienca. inorder thartfall 1p oints laround :the annular fga'sket 'will .be engagedfwithfeaualizedsealing .for-.ce between the cap and time; fstem end. The 'invention ytherefore oomprises lalso .a single: size- 1and construction fof spring. lugs; tof-accomplishthese-results in an die@ feo

proved manifierzand withbotttssizes of cap.

:invention applicable to many construe'- tions of. capa; ibut litv has` .particular advantages of eoonnyzasdesoribe when theioapeis of thekeyonemted,..lock.type;g :because of thev greater 'cost of, making and/assemblingthat type `of' cap.

1primary'-fobieste .of-i :the invention 'la-11e set forth. :inthe foregoing.

l father obectszwillbe apparent` to th'ose'skilled i'nfthevl Sart torwhio'hithexinwention a'ppertains..

,'Bhelinvention isfiullw described in .the fellnwing description takeniinieonneotion with the accom-.- panning @traveling..in

FFigfll isl a lrlngitud'inall lseetonall View; showing a filling cap embodying a part. ofrt'lxenverition and mounted. -`'on a dllirrg tube oristemioi small size;

Fig;l2`iis-f'a-viewsitnilafr to Eig...1 showinefthe can emilie. with an adaptertfembodyingiipant:ofi the invention, :assembled therewith; andfwith. 'thecazp meuitedonfa stemoflargessize;

l'Figa 3T Lis :a bottom 'plan View :of the Fig; 2';

. .Fiel 'lizza ifragmentary longitudinal, sectional view ofztihe .endapontionzof `zallilling stem, the'eetional iplfan of the l'view being approximately at riig'nt :angles vtorfthat of me.y .1

5.a 'tnpepl'an viewofntwo. of the parts wliiiolmarefviewedrnmitnezside in Zand from the bottom in Eig. plane of"aunctureaoflparts-indicated.at.Sfiln.E152, or iniEig 12;

parts nf man :1s-aj longitudinal-.sectional view l 3 in modified form a spring element of the other figures;

Fig. 7 is an end view of the spring of Fig. 6.

The subject matter of this patent is divisional from my Patent 2,391,498, issued December 25, 1945, the application for which was copending herewith.

Referring to the drawing, I have shown at I in Figs. 1 and 4 and at IA in Figs. 2 and 3, the lling tube or stem of a fuel tank which customarily extends upwardly from the tank as illustrated, the tank being not shown; and the stem I representing a small size or small diameter stem and the stem IA representing a large size as referred to hereinbefore.

The upper end of the stem I is turned over to provide a generally annularsurface 2 engageable by a sealing gasket 3; and the metal is then bent inwardly or axially to provide a diametrically opposite pair of flanges 4 4, the inner edges of which are inclined to be cam-shaped as at 5 in Fig. 4, each of the flanges terminating circumferentially in a shoulder 6 as shown for one of them in Fig, 4 and the inclined cam surface 5 terminating in a shoulder 1.

The large stem IA has a similar gasket sealing surface 2A but of larger diameter, and similar flanges 4A-4A, and shoulders 6A and 1A. The surface 2A as shown in Fig. 3 has openings 8A therein, diametrically opposite; and it will be understood that the sealing surface 2 in the 'forms of Figs. 1 and 4 has like openings, one of which is indicated at 8. The stem thus described is the conventional form of stem customarily provided on fuel tanks of automotive vehicles.

The cap comprises a cover portion or body 9 having a depending peripheral flange I0, these part-s being larger in diameter than the stem I or IA and being externally of ornamental appearance. On the underside of the body 9 is an extension II preferably cylindrical, and in the form shown of tubular or housing form, the lower end portion being broken away to further illustrate its tubular character. On the lower end of the extension or housing II is mounted a housing cover I2 by means of a plurality of screws l3-I3. The housing cover I2 comprises generally a circular plate I4 having an annular head or rim I5 extending upwardly therefrom, provided with a pair of diametrically opposite notches I6 in the rim, the upper edge of the rim engaging the lower edge of the tubular housing at the juncture plane I1, see Figs. 1 and 2, the screws I3 passing through suitable perforations in the plate I4 and being threaded into the end of the housing II.

On the upper side of the plate II!- and approximately at its center and coaxial with the housing II is an upwardly projecting post or protuberance I8, the outer surface of which is preferably cylindrical. At I9 is a sheet metal spring consisting generally of a central portion of annular form and arms 2I-2I extending radially away therefrom in opposite directions. A central perforation 22 in the spring loosely surrounds the said post I8; and the arms 2I-2I extend laterally through the notches I6 of the cover; which notches, when the cover is in place on the housing I I are covered by the latter and as illustrated constitute openings through and out of which the arms extend.

Viewed from the side as in Figs. 1 and 2, see also Fig. 6, the middle of the spring bulges down- Wardly convexly as at 23 and rests upon the top side of the plate I 4, the latter thereby serving as a spring support. Proceeding radially from the center, the spring bends upwardly into the arms 2 I-2 I, and as they pass through the openings IB, they are convex upwardly, and where they extend beyond the openings, they bend downwardly again, terminating in finger ends 24-24'.

The spring I9 is not fastened rigidly at any point to the structure. The perforation 22 encircling the post I3 loosely, prevents the spring from shifting radially in any direction; the arms 2I2I by projecting through the openings I6, prevent the spring from rotating relative to the rest of the structure; and by the engagement of the arms with the upper walls of the opening IS, which wallis provided as described by the lower end of the housing II, the spring is trapped against movement axially,

The side walls and top walls of the openings I 6-I6 may therefore be considered as spring arm engaging abutments for the purposes referred to.

By this construction, it is important to note that the spring by means of its downwardly convex central bulge 23 may rock freely on the spring support I4; and that the spring has no rivet holes or the like therein, as are sometimes provided in sheet metal springs to mount them, and which means cause the bending of the spring to concentrate at such holes and prematurely crystalize and break thereat.

Directly under the fingers 2I, the spring support I 4 has wings 25-25 extending radially therefrom. Normally the fingers 2| of the spring are spaced from the wings 2525.

Preferably, before the spring is assembled in the device, it has the side view contour shown in Fig. 6 in solid line. When it is placed in position and the cover I2 is fastened on the housing II, the spring is thereby flattened out somewhat, as shown in broken line in Fig. 6, and in solid line in Figs. 1 and 2; and thereby is given initial tension or set or load for well known reasons and purposes.

The said cylindrical post or protuberance I8 may be provided on the upper side of the cover I2 for the sole purpose of anchoring the spring at its center with freedom to rock on the spring support I4 as described. The cap shown in the drawing to illustrate the present invention, however, i-s one which can be locked on the filling stem by means of a key 26 and lock elements not shown and which lock parts constitute no part of the invention, the same being fully illustrated and described in my aforesaid Patent No. 2,391,498. When such lock parts are employed, this protuberance or post I8 has a pocket 2'! shown in dotted line extending downwardly thereinto and containing some of the lock parts.

Referring to Fig. 1, the annular gasket 3 has its central perforation 28 of such size as to snugly fit the cylindrical housing or extension II, so that when it is telescoped thereover, it will adhere thereto; and the upper side of the gasket engages against an annular wall 29 of the cap body, which is of approximately the same diameter as the sealing surface 2.

To mount the cap, as thus far described, upon the stern I, it is first rotated by hand until the wings 25 and spring ngers 2I come opposite the openings 8 in the flange 2, and then these parts are projected down through the openings until the gasket 3 rests upon the flange 2. The cap is ,then rotated, and the spring fingers 2I engage "the" cam eures 3i and upon continued' rotation of' the cap the fingers or the spring arms 21h21 benddownwardiy as will be understood, and i'esiliently` ydraw the cap downwardly tightly en gaging, the gasket 3 between the face 2 and the annular wall Mt'oseal the end of the stem. The wings 25-25 ign'oienting` under` the spring lingers protect the springl arms from being bent too far .to .irregularities et the.x stem parts. The thrust of the spring is at the, center ofi the cap by virtue of. the. said bulge. 23 of. the, spring. If either of thev stem cam edgesl due 'to irregularities or? the stem parts, should?. propel its corre'- spundilig, end. of. the. spring, farther than the other.. the. spring. will rock. on. the bulge. to cause both endetl ofi the` spring to. exert; equal?. and balancedithrusts. The. gasket: 3isi'thus in every case pressed: upon the face. 2, witln equalize@ sealing Alpressure all the way around the same.

When the cap is inserted in the end of the stem I, it will be observed that the cylindrical housing or extension II fits, with suitable clearance, the opening at the end of the stem, and the cap is thereby centered on the end of the stem to center the gasket and the annular wall 29 coaxially thereof for the described sealing purposes.

The same set of cap parts as described to fit the small filling stem of Fig. 1 are used to fit the Targe filling stem of Figs. 2 and 3; but in the case of the large stem an adapter 30 is added to the structure. The adapter 30 is in the form of a sheet metal cup, the side Wall 3| of which, at the open end of the cup, is frictionally, telescopingly fitted into and within the said annular wall 29 whereby comes a part of the assembly together with the body wall 9 and side wall I0 of the cap. The bottom of the cup has a large perforation 32 of such size as to fit loosely, with suitable clearance, the depending housing or extension I I to improve the appearance. The gasket, in this case 3A, may for convenience and economy of manufacture, be of the same outside diameter as the gasket v3, Fig. 1, and its central perforation snugly ts the cup side wall 3l and adheres thereto as a part of the assembly. The side wall 3I of the adapter extends below the gasket 3A, and when the cap is presented to the end of the stem IA, the wall 3| of the adapter functions to center the cap on the stem IA, of Fig. 2, in the same manner as the extension II functions to center it on the stem I of Fig. 1. The cap body 9 is provided with a second annular wall 33 upon which the gasket 3A engages, and it is of such diameter as to be opposite the large diameter sealing surface 2A of the stem IA. If preferred these two annular walls may be merged into a single wall, but since the cap body is preferably die-cast, economy of die casting metal is effected by making them as separated walls as shown.

The cap is mounted in the stem IA as described for the stem I of Fig. 1 and when rotated draws the cap inwardly and clamps the gasket 3A between the surface 2A and the annular wall 33 with equalized sealing pressure.

Having in mind the underlying principles hereinbefore set forth, it will now be apparent that whether the cap is provided with a lock or not, the parts of the cap can all be made and assembled as in Fig. 1 and stocked, whether they are to be sold for use with a large stem or a small one. If the cap is to be used with a small stem, it is made ready to ship by providing a gasket 3 "telescoped over the central housing I I. If the cap is to be used with a large stem it is made ready it is attached thereto, and beo tofsnipi ley-first telescopi/ng 'inte place. the adapter 3tanci putting on the gasket-3A-.

' The spring as -'ci'escriloecli may, .if desired; .be provided with the additional# rnorii'iioation` shown in Fig. 6'-, vwhr'erein as shown. 'the metal aty the extreme endsor 'iingz'ersz of the spring; besides being upwardly convex ati- S-fanot asf described forliigs. 1 and 2; are. transversely upwardly 'een Voir as at 351. Thisiaddswgreater stiifnessi te- 'the extreme ends of the spring' making 'therrl` more resistant to bending; and 'causesl the actual r'e'sile 'lent' yielding off the spring to occuifafrther in# ward alongfthe spring armsI--l thus: tending to distribute the bending over a: greater' length of the7 spring; Y

I claim:

l1. In acap' closure for tlietubular fillingstem of? a liquid fuel tank; af capi body-f for covering the 'stein end, andi having abentral housing: por-i tibrr integr-al1 therewith anniv depending' therefrom for centering in the open end of the tank stem; the lower end of the depending portion being open and tubular and provided with diametrically opposite downwardly open notches; a cover plate secured to and covering the said tubular open end and having cover portions covering the notches to thereby provide apertures; said cover portions extending laterally beyond the apertures to provide stops; a post projecting integrally upwardly from the center of the cover plate; a sheet metal spring having an enlarged central portion and fingers extending oppostely radially therefrom; a perforation in the central portion of the spring loosely telescoped over and encircling the post; the central portion formed with a downwardly extending bulge resting upon the cover plate, and the spring being free to rock bodily thereon; the fingers extending through and beyond the apertures and held thereby against rotation around the post, and engaging the bottoms of the apertures to keep the spring from becoming untelescoped from the post, and to pre-load the spring; the stops normally spaced from the spring iingers and limiting bending movement of the fingers away from the aperture bottoms.

2. In a cap closure for the tubular filling stem of a liquid fuel tank; a cap body for covering the stem end, and having a central housing portion integral therewith and depending therefrom for centering in the open end of the tank stem; the lower end of the depending portion being open and tubular and provided with diametrically opposite downwardly open notches; a cover plate secured to and covering the said tubular open end and having cover portions covering the notches to thereby provide apertures; said cover portions extending laterally beyond the apertures to provide stops; a post projecting integrally upwardly from the center of the cover plate; a sheet metal spring having an enlarged central portion and fingers extending oppostely radially therefrom; a perforation in the central portion of the spring telescoped over and loosely encircling the post; the central portion formed with a downwardly extending bulge resting upon the cover plate and the spring being free to rock bodily thereon; the fingers extending through and beyond 'the apertures and held thereby against rotation around the post, and engaging the bottoms of the apertures to keep the spring from becoming untelescoped from the post;i the stops normally spaced from the spring fingers and limiting bending movement of the fingers away from the aperture bottoms.

3. In a cap closure for the tubular lling stem of a liquid fuel tank; a cap body for covering the stem end, and having a central housing portion integral therewith and depending therefrom for centering in the open end of the tank stem; the lower end of the depending porti-on being open and tubular and provided with diametrically opposite downwardly open notches; a cover plate secured to and covering the said tubular open end and having cover portions covering the notches to thereby provide apertures; a post projecting integrally upwardly from the center of the cover plate; a sheet metal spring having an enlarged central portion and lngers extending oppositely radially therefrom; a perforation in the central portion of the spring loosely telescoped over and encircling the post; the central portion formed with a downwardly extending bulge resting upon the cover plate and the spring being free to rock bodily thereon; the fingers extending through and beyond the apertures and held thereby against rotation around the post, and engaging the bottoms of the apertures to keep the spring from becoming untelescoped from the post.

SOLOMON WISE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

